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Don McRae

@donmcrae.bsky.social

670 followers 99 following 170 posts

Author of 14 books about fighters, surgeons, trial lawyers, South Africa and real life. https://www.donaldmcrae.com/ Interviewer for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/profile/donaldmcrae https://www.donaldmcrae.com/

www.donaldmcrae.com

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Don McRae @donmcrae.bsky.social · Nov 15

I have been working on The Last Bell for a long time but, finally, it's done. You can read about it here & pre-order a copy bit.ly/3UOUjYb. Out in March, this is my last boxing book. Thanks @amandakelley.bsky.social
for the majestic painting on the cover and to all at
Simon & Schuster UK

The Last Bell: Life, Death and Boxing: Amazon.co.uk: McRae, Donald: 9781398504189: Books

Buy The Last Bell: Life, Death and Boxing by McRae, Donald (ISBN: 9781398504189) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

bit.ly

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Don McRae @donmcrae.bsky.social · 58m

I wasn't at the fight last night but the extraordinary Fabio Wardley show rolls on. Trailing on the scorecards, again, he stopped Joseph Parker to complete another stunning comeback victory. Our interview ran earlier this week and he shared his story in detail

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/o...

‘My Netflix title would be white collar to world champion’: Fabio Wardley on his boxing journey | Donald McRae

Former Ipswich academy footballer Fabio Wardley fights Joseph Parker on Saturday and he tells Donald McRae he hopes victory will secure a title shot at Oleksandr Usyk, with whom he once sparred in Ukr...

www.theguardian.com

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Don McRae @donmcrae.bsky.social · 1d

Dalglish on watching Liverpool v Man U at Anfield with Fergie last Sunday: “Of course I gave him chocolate. He enjoyed them as well. He was like a wee kid going to school. Behave yourself or you’re not having any chocolate buttons. He was in good form, before the game as well.”

Don McRae @donmcrae.bsky.social · 1d

Asif Kapadia: “Kenny and Marina [Dalglish’s wife], and all those around them, are just good people. It’s important – particularly now when so many awful people are in positions of power – to tell a story about good people who care about others.”

Kenny Dalglish: “You’re supposed to help.”

Don McRae @donmcrae.bsky.social · 1d

It was good to interview Kenny Dalglish and Asif Kapadia about their moving new film, doing the right thing after the devastation of Hillsborough, their confusion about xG, why there is no mini-crisis at Liverpool and how King Kenny produced miracles...

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

‘It’s what’s in your heart that counts’: Kenny Dalglish on his love for Liverpool and the long shadow of Hillsborough

Donald McRae talks to Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish and Oscar-winning director Asif Kapadia, who has made a film about the Scot’s remarkable career in football

www.theguardian.com

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Don McRae @donmcrae.bsky.social · 1d

A little preview of Parker and Wardley - ready for their ‘all or nothing’ battle with a likely world title crack at Usyk on the line

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/o...

Parker and Wardley ready for ‘all or nothing’ rumble with shot at Usyk on the line

Heavyweight clash promises great intrigue as the experienced Parker aims to keep up a hot streak of six wins against the British former white-collar boxer

www.theguardian.com

Don McRae @donmcrae.bsky.social · 4d

I enjoyed interviewing Fabio Wardley. We covered a lot - from white collar boxing to the brink of a world title fight to the dangers of boxing, sparring Usyk in Ukraine, the threat of Joseph Parker and losing a little bit of his soul against Frazer Clarke...

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/o...

‘My Netflix title would be white collar to world champion’: Fabio Wardley on his boxing journey | Donald McRae

Former Ipswich academy footballer Fabio Wardley fights Joseph Parker on Saturday and tells Donald McRae he hope victory will earn him a world title shot at Oleksandr Usyk, who he once went to Ukraine ...

www.theguardian.com

Don McRae @donmcrae.bsky.social · 5d

Ed Caesar's intricately detailed and exhaustive exploration of Daniel Kinahan's world is a searing piece of investigative reporting. Boxing, of course, features heavily.

www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

The Cocaine Kingpin Living Large in Dubai

Daniel Kinahan, an Irish drug dealer, commands a billion-dollar empire from the U.A.E. Why isn’t he in prison?

www.newyorker.com

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Don McRae @donmcrae.bsky.social · 8d

Thanks Peter...that made me laugh!! I will take it!!!

Reposted by Don McRae

Sachin Nakrani @sachinnakrani.bsky.social · 9d

A typically great @donmcrae.bsky.social interview with champion jockey Oisin Murphy in today’s Guardian, with what is, without doubt, the best/coolest-photograph-alongside-an-interview I’ve seen in my 18 years here. Was a joy in my role as print editor yesterday helping put this together.

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Don McRae @donmcrae.bsky.social · 9d

Thanks so much Sachin! I loved the pix too!! It was quite a morning with Oisin

Don McRae @donmcrae.bsky.social · 9d

It was special to talk to Oisin Murphy as he spoke in gripping detail about the demons he faces as champion jockey. So much raw honesty about his alcoholism, the shock of turning 30, winning a fifth jockey's title and why he still loves racing and Sylvia Plath

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/o...

Oisin Murphy: ‘I found escapism but also an awful lot of trouble in the bottle’

The champion jockey tells Donald McRae about his pursuit of sobriety, his April car crash, a voracious need to win – and the poetry of Sylvia Plath

www.theguardian.com

Don McRae @donmcrae.bsky.social · 18d

It's always interesting to interview Geraint Thomas and, this time, we spoke about suffering, winning, the ones that got away, being normal, longevity, doping stories, retirement, finding a new way by working with riders in his upcoming job and his last ever race

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/o...

‘I’m the total opposite to Cav and Brad’: Geraint Thomas on how a normal bloke won the Tour de France

The two-time Olympic gold medallist tells Donald McRae about the grit and sacrifice needed to succeed for two decades in elite cycling

www.theguardian.com

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Don McRae @donmcrae.bsky.social · 25d

I appreciated Jos Buttler talking so openly about the passing years, as a 35-year-old, the death of his father, helping England pass 300 in a T20 world first, the pain of captaincy, shedding that burden, new ambitions and why his bat still says 'fuck it'...

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/s...

Jos Buttler: ‘A big burden has been lifted – I wasn’t the same leader after the 2023 World Cup’

The England white-ball veteran tells Donald McRae about his post-captaincy career, his Ashes struggles and the recent death of his father

www.theguardian.com

Don McRae @donmcrae.bsky.social · 27d

England won the women's rugby World Cup yesterday. I've interviewed a few of their squad and they are all impressive. But this Meg Jones interview, about her past trauma, offers some insight into how special she is in overcoming the death of her parents

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/m...

‘I know how important it is to tell people you love them’: England’s Meg Jones on family tragedy, hope and rugby

As England look to the Six Nations in a World Cup year, Meg Jones tells Donald McRae about how she juggles grief and guilt after losing her father to cancer and mother to alcoholism

www.theguardian.com

Don McRae @donmcrae.bsky.social · Sep 25

It means a lot to be on this list with some very good books. Thanks to the @BookiePrize for their constant support of sports books....it helps so many writers.

Don McRae @donmcrae.bsky.social · Sep 25

It was fascinating talking to Ben Youngs as he explained the guilt that meant he was always looked down in shame when being praised as English rugby's most capped player. He was just as honest addressing the coaching limitations of Borthwick, Lancaster and Gatland
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/s...

‘I didn’t get empathy from Borthwick’: Ben Youngs on family trauma and why he rates Eddie Jones

The former scrum-half tells Donald McRae why family illnesses made him feel guilty about being England’s most-capped player

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Don McRae

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · Sep 23

I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again.

Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐

Graphic with the headline “London is the greatest city in the world” set against a bright view of the River Thames with the Shard, Tower Bridge and the city skyline.

The text celebrates what makes London special: regularly voted the number one city in the world, incredible diversity with over 300 languages spoken, world-class transport, world leader in finance tech and life sciences, best museums and galleries many free to visit, world-leading nightlife, food sport and music for every taste, host to the world’s best sporting events, home to seven Premier League clubs, globally-ranked universities, a city where you can be yourself and love who you love, and a place for everyone.

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Don McRae @donmcrae.bsky.social · Sep 23

Thanks Martin O'Neill for being so honest and interesting as he spoke about being sacked from his final job at Forest, Marinakis, Nuno, being interviewed for England, the "nonsense" of expected goals and sporting directors and why he still loves football...

www.theguardian.com/football/202...